As a homeowner, you may assume that you need both a furnace and an air conditioner to maintain the comfort level in your home throughout the seasons. If you’re looking to keep your costs low throughout the entire year, consider installing an air-source heat pump. Heat pumps can do both jobs so that you experience warm air in winter months and cool air in summer months, all in one convenient system.

So, why install an air-source heat pump? These devices are designed to adapt to your specific needs, providing you with adequate comfort in your home no matter the time of year. Enjoy year-round comfort with the added perk of cost savings.

Let’s take a look at what makes these units so unique and how you’ll benefit from installing one in your home.

What Is a Heat Pump?

Some people hear the term “heat pump” and associate it with heating their homes. While this is understandable, a heat pump actually doesn’t create heat. Instead, a heat pump moves heat from one location to another within your home using a small amount of energy. This means that your home will stay comfortable, and you will experience lower energy costs.

Residents with moderate cooling and heating needs will find heat pumps a great alternative to traditional methods. If your home currently uses electric heating, switching to a heat pump could cut your electricity use by a significant 30 to 40 percent. And, it's not just about saving in the winter—these pumps are great at reducing humidity in your home during the summer, which means more savings on your energy bill.

How Does an Air-Source Heat Pump Work?

An air source heat pump operates by moving heat rather than generating it. This type of unit absorbs heat from the outdoor air in colder temperatures and transfers it into the indoor space for heating. During the warmer seasons, the process is reversed to cool the indoor air.

By efficiently transferring heat rather than creating it, air source heat pumps provide a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution for maintaining indoor comfort throughout the year.

3 Types of Air-Source Heat Pumps

Before purchasing a new air-source heat pump, it’s essential to choose one that will work efficiently in your home. The presence, or lack thereof, of air ducts is a big factor in this decision. Speak with an HVAC technician who can inspect your home, advise you on what style is best suited for your needs, and help you avoid any mistakes with your heat pump system.

1. Ducted Air-Source Heat Pumps

Ducted air-source units are designed to work in homes with existing ductwork. The centralized system utilizes a network of ducts, ensuring a consistent and comfortable indoor environment.

This style of unit is ideal for larger homes or commercial buildings. These heat pumps provide even temperature control throughout the entire building while maximizing energy efficiency.

2. Single-Zone Air-Source Heat Pumps

Single-zone air-source heat pumps are compact solutions designed to regulate the temperature in a specific area or room. These units are perfect for smaller living spaces and offer heating and cooling without the need for ductwork. Their simplicity offers effective temperature control if you just need to condition a single space.

3. Multiple-Zone Air-Source Heat Pumps

Multiple-zone or ductless heat pump systems consist of multiple indoor units that are connected to a singular outdoor unit. Each indoor unit operates independently, allowing for personalized climate control in different areas or rooms. These are great choices for homes without air ducts. These are also beneficial for families that don’t agree on one temperature for the entire home.

Benefits of Air-Source Heat Pumps

These versatile units provide homeowners with various benefits. HVAC systems are hefty investments, so it’s reassuring to know that you’ve chosen one that you can rely on for many years.

Some air-source heat pump benefits include:

• Energy Efficiency: Air-source heat pumps transfer heat rather than create it, making them more energy-efficient than traditional heating systems.
• Cost Savings: By utilizing ambient air, these pumps can significantly reduce energy bills, offering long-term cost savings.
• Versatility: They can both heat and cool spaces, providing year-round climate control with a single system.
• Environmental Friendliness: With lower energy consumption, air source heat pumps contribute to a reduced carbon footprint and environmental impact.
• Consistent Performance: These pumps maintain consistent indoor comfort levels by adapting to varying temperature conditions.

Are you ready to enhance your home’s indoor comfort? Contact us today at Home Comfort Experts when you need efficient air-source heat pump installation in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan. Our professionals are here to help you choose the right unit for your home and safely set it up for you.

We can also assist you with any heat pump troubleshooting you need.

MISHAWAKA/FORT WAYNE/PLYMOUTH IN; ST. JOSEPH/NILES, MI — Cooler temperatures at night mean furnace season is coming and there isn’t anything we can do to stop it.
Most people ignore their heating system until it stops working. This isn’t the best way to protect your home, said Home Comfort Experts General Manager Brian West.
Well-maintained equipment saves families money because it is more efficient. A furnace tune-up will more than pay for itself over a year by keeping fuel costs down, he said.
The heat exchanger, the box that houses your furnace fire, develops failures over time. “It isn’t a question of ‘if,’ but ‘when,’ ” West said. Experienced HVAC technicians should check your equipment several times a year, especially if it is more than 10 years old.
Even at low levels, carbon monoxide can make you sick, West said. “Because carbon monoxide poisoning has the same symptoms as the flu, many people do not realize they have been exposed.”
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) cites, “Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires; more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.”
6 Tips to Lower Your Heating Bill
Fuel expenditures for individual households are dependent on the size and energy efficiency of your home and heating equipment, thermostat settings and local weather conditions. However, there are many things you can do in order to keep energy costs down.
Tune Up Your Furnace – Whether you have a gas or electric furnace, it needs to be tuned up regularly. This will help it work at peak efficiency so it uses less energy.
Your furnace’s heat exchanger is one of its most important parts. It can also be the most dangerous. Our technicians film the hidden parts your furnace with a special camera and talk to you about the condition of your heat exchanger.
Repair: Furnaces today have many complex parts, some are digital and many require individual evaluation with specialized testing equipment. The good news is, sometimes just a part needs replaced, not a whole furnace. Keeping the individual parts factory fresh keeps your bills low and your house warm.
Replace: Replacing the furnace is often the best choice if you have an older furnace or higher energy bills. This option is almost always more costly up front, but it often makes more sense than investing major repair money into an older system.
Change the Furnace Filter – Filters typically need to be changed every one to three months to keep your furnace working at top efficiency, saving you money. Furthermore, changing the filter improves indoor air quality.
Seal Leaks and Cracks – The average family wastes about $350 per year because of air leaks. Find and seal up cracks around your home, to save on heating and cooling costs each year.
If you have any other questions about how a furnace tuneup can help keep your family healthy and safe, please contact us at callhomecomfort.com

If you have ever had a new HVAC system installed or needed to have HVAC repairs, you are probably familiar with the term Heat Pump. Yet, while you may have heard that you needed to either replace or repair a heat pump, do you actually know what it is or what it does? Probably not. So here is a breakdown of what a heat pump is and how it works.

What Is A Heat Pump?

A heat pump is part of a central heating and cooling system. It is an integral part of the system, in that it is responsible for transporting warm air from one place to another. It does this using the air outside to either heat a home in the winter or cool a home in the summer.

How Does A Heat Pump Work?

In cold weather, heat pumps extract the heat from the outside air and move it inside the home. In warm weather, heat pumps remove the heat from the home and move it outside to cool the home.

What Are The Benefits Of Heat Pumps?

While heat pumps perform much of the same duty as furnaces, the major benefit of heat pumps is the efficiency of heating a home. Heat pumps do not generate heat using fuel the way furnaces do. Instead, heat pumps transfer heat. This increases efficiency tremendously, which is one of the key reasons to install a heat pump in your home.

Contact our heating professionals at Home Comfort Experts today to learn about our services. We serve Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan from our 12 locations. Give us a call at (574) 255-4600 to learn about our full complement of heating, cooling and plumbing services.

Heat pumps are a modern and efficient way to heat and cool homes through the same system. Unlike earlier versions, new heat pumps are effective in heating homes even in colder climates. They are easier on the environment as they provide for a cleaner operation than some other home heating options. And to top it all off, they are also cost effective from an investment and maintenance perspective, as well as being more cost-effective to operate.

Unlike other home heating equipment, heat pumps also provide air conditioning. Essentially, they are air conditioners that can also run backwards, which is how they pump out hot air to heat your home.

It is true that early generation heat pumps were not always effective enough at heating. But today’s modern heat pumps are outfitted with tougher compressors and higher efficiency, which has greatly increased their effectiveness during the heating and cooling seasons. In decades past a heat pump was not able to work well below 40 degrees. That is no longer the case. The higher efficiency heat pumps of today can capture heat from the outside air down to 0 degrees. On extremely cold evenings in harsh winter climates, homeowners may find they need to have a supplemental heating system in place. Yet certain heat pumps draw heat from water and the ground, resulting in greater efficiency that requires no supplemental heating, even in colder climates.

How Heat Pumps Work Efficiently

Modern heat pumps represent an energy-efficient alternative to traditional HVAC systems like air conditioners and furnaces. Plus, they do both heating and cooling in one unit. Essentially, they use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer.

In the winter, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into a warm home. During the summer, heat pumps move heat from a cool home into the warmer outdoors.

Todays heat pumps come in two main configurations including, air-to-air and water source, commonly known asgeothermal. Professional heating companies can help you determine which may be best for your particular home based on its structure and heating and cooling demands. Perhaps most attractive of all, in homes with electric furnaces, heat pumps have been known to reduce a home’s electricity use for heating purposes by half.

Call, click or text our heating professionals at Home Comfort Experts today to find out how we can serve your home heating needs. We serve Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan from our 12 locations. Call (574) 255-4600 to learn about our heating repair and installation on all makes and models of furnaces.

R-22, what is commonly referred to as Freon, is one of the gases used to “charge” an air conditioner. In 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency announced a phasedown schedule on production and distribution of this ozone-depleting chemical.
As R-22 is phased out, it’s price has increased due to lack of availability, increased regulations and increased demand.
Because R-22 was found to release hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), a new substance is used in air conditioning systems manufactured after 2007, R-410A. This chemical is better for the environment and more efficient in heat pump and air conditioning systems, saving homeowners money.
There is a lot of misinformation out about R-22 but the truth is, because the EPA is phasing it out, it is VERY expensive right now. Some companies may be reclaiming it from old systems, and reselling it at a comparatively low cost – a process which is unethical and possibly catastrophic to equipment due to contaminates in recovered refrigerant.

Homeowners have choices

You can still recharge your old system with R-22, Home Comfort Experts has a limited supply, but it is costly.
You can have R-22 removed and a substitute refrigerant added, though these are neither as efficient as R-22 or R-410A. Ask your Home Comfort Expert to explain.
Homeowners can update their entire system with R-410A compatible equipment. Newer equipment saves money over the long-term.
Please call Home Comfort Experts to discuss the age and type of system you own

We have camera-ready HVAC experts available to interview in studio or at headquarters about heat-related topics or call to schedule a ride-along as one of our technicians performs required annual maintenance on an area home AC.

Home Comfort Experts is a plumbing, heating and cooling company serving residential homes throughout Northern Indiana and Southwest, Michigan. It is locally owned and operated and emphasizes employee training of nearly 200 additional hours each year. All technicians are drug and background tested and expected to perform at above-standard levels, leaving homes clean and customers informed. Additionally, Home and its subsidiary Jones Plumbing Heating and Cooling of Plymouth, Ind., offer financing to make the purchase of an efficient system affordable for the families we serve.

Starting in the new year, the type of heating and cooling system you can buy will be different for Indiana homeowners. You may or may not remember that back in 2006, in compliance with mandates from the Department of Energy (DOE), the heating and cooling industry moved from 10 SEER to 13 SEER as a standard efficiency rating for heating and cooling systems. These changes ensured that all heating and cooling systems on the market were more efficient and reliable. The good news is that more efficient systems cost less to run and will save you on utility bills. In 2015, the DOE has increased the minimum standard once again from 13 SEER to 14 SEER. The heating and cooling experts at Home Comfort Experts wanted to make you aware of these changes to SEER ratings in our area, and tell you how they will affect you.

 

Understanding SEER Ratings

First things first, what is a SEER rating? In the heating and cooling industry, a furnace or air conditioner is rated by SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER minimum rating requirements are changing around the country based on region. This is the first time the federal government has varied these standards depending on the region of the country. The current 13 SEER standard for air conditioners will move to 14 SEER in most areas, but 13 SEER air conditioning units can still be sold in the northern region. The biggest product change regarding the new regulations involves all split-system heat pumps. All three regions will move from 13 SEER and 7.7 HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor), to the new national heat pump efficiency minimum of 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF.

 

What Do You Have to Do When You Purchase a Furnace, Heat Pump or AC?

Essentially, you don’t have to take any special action. Your heating and cooling specialist will know which equipment qualifies and for how long. The majority of US manufacturers already offer 14 SEER heat pump systems, and many manufacturers may have beefed up 14 SEER designs to meet product demands for 2015. One area you may notice a change in is the familiar yellow Energy Guide label or hang tag attached to every furnace, air conditioner or heat pump unit. Instead of a single rating point, new labels for split-system air conditioners and heat pumps will now show a range representing the lowest and highest SEER ratings for all the condenser’s certified coil combinations. This will verify that all of the parts in the entire system meet the new SEER guidelines.

 

The team at Home Comfort Experts is dedicated to educating you on important changes in the heating and cooling industry that might affect you. If you have questions about these changes in efficiency ratings, or are in need of a new heating and cooling system, call Home Comfort Experts. We are here to help!

 

At Home Comfort Experts, our goal is to enhance your comfort at home while being friendly to your wallet. In addition to our customized heating, cooling, and plumbing services, we also extend an invitation to join our exclusive Home Comfort Experts' Comfort Club. Membership guarantees you added peace of mind, cost savings, and top-priority service.

Join our club today and realize the various benefits that come along with maintaining your HVAC and plumbing systems. Do you need more information on our home maintenance membership program? Take a look at our Comfort Club Membership Guide.

Benefits of Preventive Maintenance

Heating, cooling, and plumbing equipment are expensive investments. If they are not properly taken care of, you risk these vital systems breaking down earlier than expected. When this happens, you may have to decide if you need to repair or replace your devices.

With preventive maintenance, your units will run more efficiently and effectively, which will extend their lifespans. The longer your systems run, the more money you will save. Signing up for a maintenance program means that you will receive extensive cleaning and repairs to your equipment.

Saves Money

While we try to price our heating and air conditioning services competitively with other companies, we can also help you save even more with our Comfort Club Membership. The membership comes with up to 10 percent discounts for our services.

Along with lucrative discounts, you’ll receive service calls and emergency repairs for free! Your membership also comes with three precision tune-ups every year for your furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, or plumbing fixtures.

Routine maintenance service for your equipment offers substantial benefits beyond just keeping things running smoothly. In fact, it can lead to significant savings, potentially reducing your energy costs by up to 30 percent each year.

Saves Time

We also take the stress out of managing your time and schedule. As a valued Comfort Club member, you gain access to our priority service and hassle-free scheduling. This means your service becomes our top priority, even during our busiest seasons. You'll never find yourself waiting for us to arrive.

Our commitment is to keep you comfortable and content, which is why we back our Comfort Club Membership with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. It's all part of our dedication to ensuring your peace of mind and satisfaction.

Adding More Value to Your Heating & Cooling Service

Your heating and cooling systems need regular care. They are designed to function efficiently only under certain conditions, and those conditions don’t include dirt buildup, blocked airflow, or leaky refrigerant lines.

Both of our Comfort Club plans offer you more when it comes to your heating and cooling service. Not only do we save you money and time, but we also make sure you’re getting outstanding customer service.

On the Comfort Club plan, we always guarantee that our work is done right, or we will fix it for free. You’re also guaranteed several maintenance procedures for various appliances with this plan, which means your systems are less likely to break down on you, saving you money down the road.

Types of HVAC Maintenance Plans: Gold & Platinum Membership

Depending on your needs, home size, and budget, you may not have extensive maintenance requirements. That is why we offer two different types of maintenance plans, so you can pick one that is right for your needs.

The Platinum Plumbing & HVAC Maintenance Plan Offers:

• Appointments within 24 hours of calling to schedule one
• Free trip charges
• Comprehensive precision tune-up and cleaning
• A thorough whole-house plumbing inspection
• Safety inspection of the heat exchanger
• Level 5 repairs at no cost
• 10% discount on Level 6 repairs
• 10% discount on accessories and plumbing services
• A 5% discount on new heating and cooling equipment
• Blower cleaning as needed
• $2,000 in emergency gas line insurance coverage

The Gold HVAC & Plumbing Maintenance Plan Offers:

• Front-of-the-line appointments
• Free trip charge
• Comprehensive precision tune-up and cleaning
• Whole-house plumbing tune-up
• Safety inspection of the heat exchanger
• 10% discount on repairs
• 10% accessory and plumbing discount
• 5% discount on new heating and cooling equipment
• $2,000 in emergency gas line insurance

Home Comfort proudly serves a broad region, stretching from the western edges of LaPorte to the eastern reaches of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Our service area extends northward from St. Joseph and Niles, Michigan, and spans all the way down to Rochester, Indiana, in the south.

Contact us online today or call our main office at (574) 498-7017 to learn more about our Comfort Club maintenance program. We are ready to help you save money and live a more comfortable life at home.

While other parts of your home get cleaned regularly, like countertops, floors, and bathrooms, when was the last time you cleaned your air ducts? It’s easy to forget about them, since they are out of sight, and they don’t need to be cleaned nearly as often as your kitchen counters, but if it’s been a while there could be some scary stuff lurking inside them. Every few years you should have your air ducts professionally cleaned to keep the air inside your home healthier for your family. Studies have shown that air inside your home can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside. Here are three things that could be stuck inside your air ducts that will make you want to schedule an air duct cleaning with Home Comfort Experts today.

 

Dead Insects & Rodents

It may not be pretty to think about, but the truth is that insects and rodents can be found in almost every house in the country, even the world. While they mainly stick to small dark places, your home’s air ducts are the perfect place for them to hide and thrive. With these intruders also comes their waste, like feces and after they die, their remains. You don’t want the air being pumped into your home to be carrying their germs and pollution with it.

Related Read: The Basics of Cleaning the Air Ducts in Your Home

 

Mold Spores & Mildew

Other perpetrators include mold, mildew and bacteria. They feed off of the dust and debris built up over the years, and thrive in dark, cool spaces like air ducts. If you’ve had water damage in the past, it could be an even bigger problem than you’re aware of. If left untreated, mold and bacteria can get into your home’s air and cause a host of health problems for your family.  If this is a concern for your family, you should look into some of our Home Comfort Expert indoor air quality solutions, like Ultraviolet Air Purification or HEPA Air Filtration systems.

 

Pet Hair & Dust Buildup

While it’s easy to get rid of dust on your shelves and lampshades, it’s not so easy to get rid of the dust and debris that piles up inside your air ducts. One person can shed about a pound and a half of skin cells every year. That can really add up if you have a large family. That’s a lot of dust particles being redistributed throughout your home in-between air duct cleanings.

Call Home Comfort Experts to schedule air duct cleaning and air purification services today.

You may have come across the idea of getting your home's air ducts professionally cleaned, but the significance might not be entirely clear. The process of professional air duct cleaning brings multiple advantages to your home environment. It contributes to a cleaner living space, enhances your home’s indoor air quality, and positively impacts the overall health of your family.

By investing in this service, you are not only ensuring a dust-free and sanitized air duct system, but also taking a proactive step toward creating a healthier indoor environment for you and your loved ones. Professional air duct cleaning can be a valuable component of maintaining a safe, comfortable, and hygienic home.

Why Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?

Over time, allergens and other pollutants can intrude into your air, causing your home to be unsafe to breathe in. Regular air duct cleaning not only promotes a cleaner living space, but also enhances overall air quality.

Additionally, you will expand your HVAC unit’s lifespan. Trust that a professional will protect you, your family, your home, and your equipment with in-depth cleaning.

Makes Your Heating & Cooling Systems More Efficient

Investing in professional air duct cleaning is a proactive measure that directly impacts the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. By clearing your air ducts of dangerous pollutants, this service ensures that your HVAC systems can function at their optimal capacity. Over time, when debris builds up in the air ducts, your HVAC systems have to exert more effort to circulate air throughout your home.

This increased workload not only strains the systems but also leads to higher monthly energy costs. By removing contaminants from your air ducts, you are allowing your HVAC systems to work more efficiently, promoting cost-effectiveness and a more comfortable home environment. Professionals who know how to clean your air ducts will help protect your necessary heating and cooling equipment.

Keeps Your Family Healthy

Cleaning your air ducts can keep your family breathing in healthier, cleaner air. Debris such as small dust and skin particles, pet dander and hair, and mold spores can all be spread throughout your home if you’re air ducts aren’t clean, creating an unhealthy breathing environment.

Not only can these things obstruct the airflow in your home, but they can also aggravate allergies and cause illness. Even if you’ve recently moved into a brand new home, you should hire a professional air duct cleaner to clear out drywall and sawdust, as well as other materials that may have found their way into your air filtration system.

Enjoy the benefits of clean air ducts by scheduling your professional cleaning.

Is Duct Cleaning a Waste of Money?

While the perception of a clean home can be subjective, dismissing air duct cleaning as a waste of money may overlook crucial factors. If you suspect mold growth or have pets that shed fur, investing in air duct cleaning becomes a necessity.

Even in homes where cleanliness seems apparent, microscopic particles, mold spores, and allergens can accumulate in ductwork over time. These contaminants, if left unaddressed, circulate through the HVAC system, compromising indoor air quality.

Air duct cleaning becomes especially vital in homes that have excess humidity. Humidity nurtures mold growth, and the spores can lead to respiratory issues and other health risks. Additionally, pet dander and fur accumulate within the ducts, affecting both air quality and system efficiency.

Regular cleaning not only helps eliminate these potential health hazards but also ensures optimal HVAC performance, giving you an energy-efficient system.

How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?

The frequency of air duct cleaning depends on various factors, such as the presence of allergies, pets, smoking, or recent home renovations. It's advisable to have your air ducts professionally cleaned every three to five years.

However, if you notice excessive dust, mold, or a musty odor, or if you've recently experienced a major home event, more frequent cleaning may be necessary. Regularly changing your HVAC system's air filters can also contribute to maintaining clean air ducts and prolonging the time between professional cleanings.

Are you still unsure if you need to have your air ducts cleaned? We at Home Comfort Experts know how to clean the air ducts in your home. We provide holistic air duct cleaning services throughout Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan. Our team will thoroughly inspect your air ducts and HVAC system, and can effectively free your ductwork of any risks.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our team of experienced technicians.